19th Nov 2016
At Slps Community Center 191-N
Britain Rd Irving TX
“We are really delighted by wonderful presentation made by the teams of JET USA and VT Seva coordinating a unique event like this – A Song on Equality” – Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
“You did incredible job! Our heart was constantly moving by seeing and listening to the Raganjali songs” – Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
JETUSA celebrated Sahasrabdi – A Song on Equality (Ramanuja‘s 1000th birth year with unique and prestigious event) in Dallas on Nov 19th, 2016. More than 3600 devotees and 1600 Registered Singers grooved to Sahasra Galarchana in the august presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, great humanitarian from Ramanuja Parampara.
Multiple organizations, music schools and dance schools joined hands with JETUSA in making the event a MESMERIZING and HISTORICAL one. The highlights –
– Raganjali – Sahasra Galarchana
– Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Avadhanam
– Ballet on Ramanuja
– Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji’s Shashti Spurthy Celebrations
Many organizations in and around Dallas joined together and have made “Sahasrabdi – A Song on Equality” event really joyful and divine. JET Dallas Coordinator Srimathi Sridevi accorded welcome to all the devotees by intoducing the program and inviting the acharyas and dignitaries for Deepa Prajwalana. His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji offered mangalasasanams to all the organizations for displaying the values to protect equality with Sangeetham (Music), Natyam (Dance) and Raganjali (Singing). Sri Swamiji said “Just like the way the value of Gold doesnt change whether we melt it or cut it, the values given by ancestors and gurus like Ramanuja Swami never diminishes. He gave us a beautiful value to follow – The Equality. Ramanuja opened temples to the lowest of the lowest, thousand years ago. He took revolutionary steps of sharing Mantram of Lord with everyone by appointing 74 simhasanadipathis. He broke the taboos by giving a call that all are equal before God.”
Sri Swamiji stated “There were many social reformers in the society. Typically, common men accept reforms but elite and scholarly of the society won’t accept them. There will be people who throw stones and create hurdles. Some others would have created walls with those stones to block the criticism. But Ramanuja used those stones to build a bridge to have good relationship. Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji narrated the life turning point incident from Ramanuja’s life about how Ramanuja’s heart was bleeding when he heard about incorrect commentary on “Kapyaasam Sruthi” from Chandogya upansihad by Yadava Prakasa and how Ramanuja gave the correct meaning. That was accepted grammatically and in essence, by scholars eventually making his guru Yadava Prakasa as his disciple with name of Govinda Jeeyar. Ramanuja believed and stated that God is like Ocean of compassion and all of us, no matter what race, religion, and caste we are born in are equal before God.” Sri Swamiji continued “We get things from God and forget him whereas God gives and forgives even if we don’t realize him. Realize the presence of God in everyone and serve all. God is everywhere and whole of the world is his divine body. The value of “Equality” given by Ramanuja was taken by many great social reformers of the world for past 1000 years. Both devotees and atheists adored Ramanuja equally. Devotees look up to Ramanuja as an embodiment of divine qualities whereas atheists look up to him as the manifestation of humanity. He spread the message of love. Share the pain and give the joy.”
He invited one and all to join the divine project “Statue of Equality” by stating that our scriptures instruct us to share and enjoy good things together. His Holiness mentioned that JETUSA and VT Seva are promoting the project for sharing the joy and appreciated the efforts of JET USA and VT Seva headed by Srimathi Aparna and Sriman Krishna Kanth respectively. Sri Swamiji stated that PRAJNA makes children act faster than super computers. His Holiness blessed all the teachers of PRAJNA and motivators Saradaji and Satyaji for making Sri Vishnu Sahasra avadhanam a great success.
“You did incredible job! Our heart was constantly moving by seeing and listening to the Raganjali songs” he stated that it is beginning for doing great activities. He continued talking about good things around the world appreciating India Prime Minister Modiji’s decisions to strengthen the country by taking measures to improve the security and making it corruption free. He stated that good people should work in unison quoting President Elect Mr. Trump’s good gesture to work with Mr. Modi. Oneness should be felt with relationship to God and let us all live like different parts of the body “Vasudhaika Kutumbakam” led by great gurus who showed the path of righteousness. HH offered mangalasasanams to HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji for guidance. We invite you all for the main event which is going to happen in 2017 on larger scale with minimum of “Laksha Galarchana.” He gave call to NRIs to book multiple flights to India and travel in the sky while singing glories of Ramanuja in the sky. Bless us with strength to face the hurdles such as umbrellas to face the rain.
JET USA President Srimathi Aparna thanked Sri Swamiji for blessing the fortune of hosting the event to Dallas. She mentioned that to put up a show of this magnitude, it took hours and hours of time and great efforts by many teams. She appreciated the volunteering work of Srimathi Deepika, Srimathi Sruthi, Srimathi Lakshmi and Sriman Yugandharacharya Swami in making Raganjali a huge success. She thanked Saradaji, Satyaji, SriGowriji, Yugandharacharya Swami, Yadagiri Swami and Pavan Swami for their efforts in making avdhanam a successful one. She also thanked Natyanjali Dance Academy (Dance Ballet by Yugandharacharya Swami and Srimathi Srilatha Suri), Nrutya Shakti Dance Group (Srimathi Vandita Parikh), Media Partners Yuva Radio, Fun Asia and Sound/ Lighting/Video by SoundORama production.
The program concluded with the most memorable and wonderful Shashti Spurthy Celebrations of His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji beginning with a video of 60 year incredible journey covering the important milestones spanning spiritual and social service activities. Sri Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji conducted the celebration by introducing Sri Swamiji as “Vennela Chandrudu” to remove “amaavasya” darkness. Sri Swamiji glowed like bright moon on the Dias and devotees will cherish the moment forever. They sang and danced joyously to the live song sung by Sriman Yugandharacharya Swami. Sri Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji and Sriman Madhu Swami honored Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji with Vedic tradition of celebrating the Shashti Spurthy with “Pari vattam.”
His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji became speechless while talking about his acharya because he was captivated by the love of devotees just like Lord Krishna was tied by mother Yashoda. His Holiness attributed all the glory to His acharya Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji’s grace and stated that He always prays to be used as His acharya’s instrument in serving His Acharya’s vision as a humble servant. The program concluded with mangala harathi to His Holiness which all the devotees joined with love and happiness.